Drop hammer of the gravity type



y 1952 P. A. RICKRODE DROP HAMMER OF THE GRAVITY TYPE 2 SI-IEETS-SHEET 1 Filed April. 7, 1950 f1. 7672 02:00? 19 077294 hW P. A. RICKRODE DROP HAMMER OF THE GRAVITY TYPE July 22, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April 7, 1950 Patented, July 22, 952

:Pai1l A. Rickrode,ChambersburgJPm, 'assignorl" Chambersburg' Engineering Company,

v Chambersburg, Pa., a corporation-of Pennsylvania v I Application April 7, 1950,"serialj 1516, 154,563 14 Claims. (01. 121-4 2),

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in drop hammers and more particularly to drop hammers of;the gravity type wherein the ram is raised by air or other elastic fluid under pressure. I

. In drop hammers of this type a forging may require, for example twelve to fifteen blows oi the ramin order properly to shape the metal. However,- in most cases the full stroke of the ram is needed for only the'first severalblows upoflthe 'Work'an'd the remaining blows required 'to properly shape the forging usually can be of a str okesubstantially less than the full stroke of the rain, ;The use "of a shorter ram stroke, after tlieffirst-iewfull stroke blows upon thework, would conservefthe power'required to operate the hammer and also substantially reduce the wear on-the 'dies.- However-,prior' to the present inven- 5tion,-n"o practical-means have'been available for changing the stroke -of the ram while thedrop hammer is in operation. I r I With the foregoing in mind, the principal object of the present invention is to provide" a drop hammer'of the type described having novel-mechanical means operable at will to effectively shorten the "stroke oft-he ram during continued operation 'of'thedrop-hammer. I

Another object-of the invention isto provide a fluid operated drop hammer of the stated character having novel valve control means operable to shut-off the supply of pressure fluid to the ram lift piston at apredetermined point in advance of the; full elevated position thereof so that upward movement of the ram is arrested at a -point below the full elevated position of the ram thereby afiording a shorter drop stroke for the ram I V l A 'further object of the invention is to provide a pressure fluid operated drop hammer having the'operational-and structural features and characteristics set forth which is economical and efficient in'use and entirely foolproof'and'safe in operation.

4 These and other objects of the invention and the various features'and details of the construction and operation thereof are hereinafterfully set forth and described with reference to-the accompanying drawings,- in which: Y 1 f-Fig; 1 isa fragmentary front elevational view partially section, of a pressure fluidoperated 'drophammer embodying the present invention;

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary face'view of a valve control lever incorporated in the drop and s ow fl p ss iinrentiw t operative-position;

Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 2 showing the device of the present invention in inoperative position; as:

Fig. iis a fragmentary sectional view in reduced sizeonlirieA-tFig'l2;: i p -v #Fig. 5-is an enlarged fragmentary side -elevae tional view= sho'wing the :device offthe presentinventi'om' .YY I Y. i i Fig. 6 isa sectional viewtaken' on line' 6+6;

' 'Figc isa Fig:5;-- i i Fig. 8 is: a perspective view, partially in section, of an adjustable dog which forms a part of fth'e device :of the present invention; .l. 5 i

-Fig. -9 'is.a:detached view inperspective ofiza sleeve -member which 7 is cooperable with the adjustable dog' shown in Fig.'#-& to-position-the latter operatively or inoperatively as desired; and Fig; 10-is' a1 side elevational view showing the control means for the" drop hammer in the device of the'present invention; Y J l 1 'v-T r l teferr'ing now- 'to the drawingsand more particularly to Fig. -1' thereof, the presentinvention sectional View taken on:

is "shown-in conjunction with "afiuid-pre'ssure operated drop hammer comprising the usual base i, relatively spaced apart sidefra'mes 2 and-"a head-or upper housing 3 which mountsa fver ti cally ranged cylinder for containing a piston 5; Piston rodlfi has-its-upper end connected to the piston -5 and its othe'r end is connecte'd to a ram 1 which is mounted for verticalreciprocatori movement between-the side frames 2 and' adapt'e'di when dropped, to cooperatively engage the usu'al anvil 8 supported upon the base l of the apparatusn i A g4 In accordance with the'practiceusuallygemployed in pressure fluid-operated"drophammers, the ram is adapted ft'o} drop freely by gravity from the elevated position 'show in:'Fig" 11 downwardly into impact engagement-with thfe anviPB, and' pressure fluid'adm'itted to th ei cylinde 4 below the piston5 is utilized s cmprj ra se the latter and ram 1 tothe elevated position valve-sleeve I l "m -axially" spaced relation ther to are-manifolds Band I 4 fre'spec'tively,'-the render being arranged to receive pre'ss'ure'fiuid froni'a fiuidsupply while the latter is in open communication with the lower end of the lift cylinder 4 through a passage l6. 7

Communication from the fluid pressur manifold M to the interior of the valve I2 is provided by ports IT in the sleeve l l while communication from the valve element to the cylinder-manifold I3 is providecl' by other ports 18 in said sleeve.

The inner end of the valve sleeve His in open v communication with an exhaust port I9 provided in the housing 3 and opening totheatmosphere v at the rear of the drop hammer.

Actuation of the valve element 12 is. elfectediby i means of a control leverv22idisposed. for actuation by the ram 1 and suitably connected to a valve rod 23. The control lever 22, constructed as shown in the drawings, is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a pin 24' secured to one of the side frames 2 of the machine. Adjustably secured to the control lever 22 are dogs 25 and 26,

respectively, which are arranged to'be engaged'by therami'in the manner: and sequence hereinafter set forth.

" .The upper end of the lever.:22 ispivotallyconnected to the inner end of .a link 21 which has its outer: end V-pivotally connected-to an arm .28 fixed on-a-pins29imounted in the side frame 2 and havof, :the, lever 22 is actuated in i the counterclockwlse,; direction with respectcto Fig; 1 to thereby cause the ,valve ielement l2 :to ;be shifted; to the left from the position shown and: establishcommunication through the valve, from vtheimanifold [-3130theimanifoldl4 so that pressure fluid is "admitted :tojthe; lift cylinder .4 causing :the I piston;v 5 and arm -,1 to be actuated upwardly. Following this; an'din normal operation of ,the 'drop hammer .upon engagement of the upper dog-26 by the ram;, 1-durmg :its tupwardmovement; the lever v22 is actuated ine'the plockwise direction: resulting in shifting'of the valve [2 back into the position shown, thus interrupting fiowjof lpressurefiuid to the cylinder '4 and exhaustlng'vfluid previously admitted to said 'cylinder to the atmosphere through the exhaust port ,I 9. i

A suitable elastic fluid under pressur is supplied: to the main valve I from-a mainpressure n q su pl ines l Apart of this filiidris to flow -throu gh a pipe-3 la,, control valve-33 and pipe 32 [eta=c mnzneleaseec nd r ot: s ow w i may be, for example, of the construction and opl e im, sh rth nd descri d in e am ndi p- Phaeto q ele rnan w e i wimmer-# 94 filed pctoben 8 19 .i6,-;now abandoned. 'Ihe valve 33 has'an operating leve 33a which is actuated PY: a tedl .3 whi h. he ePr sed.- c ua the j e e iosedmi P s r u d e p p fliresultipg actuation of such, clamp release mechanism toallow the rain-1 to drop, I

j eviu' ly stated.,- he u l s r e ihe ra co db .2 d 26 o th eve 2.2 m most cases is necessary only for the first few ar se Z ei er in Operation. and o e n' aining blows of therazn the length of the stroke m y be reduced onshortened to thereby conserve power required'to operate the drop hammer and also reduce wear on the dies; With this in mind, according to the present invention there is provided on the control lever 22 between dogs 25 and 26 thereof, an adjustable dog mechanism which may be projected into the path of the ram for engagementithereby to close the valve 'l'll -and arrest upward movement of 'theram' at a point substantially below the upper limit of its normal stroke so that the length of the succeeding drop .stroke of the ram is materially shortened or re- "duced'in length.

To'this end there is pivotally mounted upon the controlvlever'22 amovable dog member 35. As

' 36 the dog is provided with upwardly extending shown in iFigJ-8 of the drawings, the dog 35 has an opening 36 to receive therethrough the control lever 22 and at opposite sides of said opening spaced parallel arm portions 31 having openings 38 therethrough for reception of a pin 39 by means of; which the dog35 is pivotally mounted on the control lever 22. With reference to,Fig. -:'Z, it is to be noted that the opening 36 throughithe dog member 35 is of greater extent athanethe width of the control lever 22 in order to -permit limited pivotal or swinging movement or th ,dog 35 with respect to the control lever 22.

- -Surrounding and slidable with respect ,to the lever 22 ;,and the arm portions .31 L of the: dog- 35 is t e le ve o M H a c n o memb having also a vertically extending cylinde portion '42llaterally adjacent one sideof the-,sa d sleeve ort on 0- e l ru e e r nement he sleev portion 00 t o l-membe v such ha heneeve'fi ris' Q'rfi l os t resting u o the dqe 35 v e-le t r isq dso, a h n s te h r d-is p i etd i tq the P t O i m 7 for; en a em n l il by during its upward moveme'nt assho wnin Fig e2 ofthedrawings. On thelother hand, when t e sleeve 40 is raised with rspect to the dgg fila su i n ta ce h .o ert l lcei mp rted to the ,dog, by the heavier nose; portion 43 thereof}, aswell as the eccentric pivotal mounting: f .-the dog on thelever22, causes the.dQ ?3- ;.pivot automatically in the counterclockwise. direction to an extent limited by the length of -the opening 3B therein-thus removing the nose portion- 43 from the path of the ram 1.--sothatthe;dog= 35 is not engagedeby the ram .duringits upwardrn ove ment. a it Actuation of the control member-4! ,with re;- spect to the ,lever- 22 and dog 351s accomplished by means of a pressure fluid operated-piston! which is disposed within the cylindereportion fl of the member 4| (for example asshown'in-Fig. 6 of the drawings). The piston 44 is provided with a piston rod vwhich extends throughfihe upper end of the cylinder portion 42' and thefree endofsaid rod 45 has an adjustable threaded connection with a bracket 46 thatvi n: turn is pivotally mounted upon apin 41 carried by-the lever 2 2. A lock nut 48 is provided on the piston 9d 1 9 s c r th thE' iQQVPW W -Qi Z ,rod,451to the bracket 46 in the-desiredposition of adjustment."

'A soil f a n u ds e t rrqdflfi' in the cylinder 42 and; since thepiston rod lihas its upperend fixedly connected to the lever :22,

wee 5 9 t ridrmelly o ain ai t eai 5 'wiard position shown in Figs. 3 and 7 with its nose portion 43 removed from the path of .travel of the rain I. On the other hand, when fluid under suf- .fi'cientpressure is admitted. to the cylinder 42 be- 1ow..the piston 44, the latter remains stationary byreason of its fixed connectio to the lever 22 and hencethe cylinder 42 and its associated sleeve .portion 40 are actuated downwardly against the .force; of spring 49 with respect to the dog 35 thereby actuating the latter in the clockwise direction to. position the nose portion ,43 thereof into the path of .upwardmovement of the ram 1. In this connection, it will be noted withY-respect to Figs. 7; and- 8 of the drawingsthatthere is provided adj aoent, the lower outer ends of the arm-portions, 31. of the, dog 35 inclined cams 31a ..disposed for engagement by the lower edge of the sleev 4ll upon downward actuationgof the -latter'so that the dog 35 is actuated in the clockwise; direction by. a, cam action. In addition, there is provided inwardly of the nose portion 43 of-thedog 35 a recess 43a which isfconfigurated according to, the sha e of the corresponding or ..complementary portion 48a ofthe sleeve 40 so :jthat-thejlatter is "received; in the dog-recess43a in'the-relation shown in Fig. 2 of, the drawings when the, sleeve 431s in its lowered position and .thfedogg35 isv in the projected or clockwiseposiltionri, i i v Pressure fluid is supplied to thecylinder 42 beneaththe piston 44 to raise the latter against spring 49 by a pipe system 50, including 'a flexible portion 513a,v which is connected atone end to the cylinder portion 42 as indicated at 5| and has its other. end connected to the outlet of a two-way valve 52 having an exhaust 53 opening to the atmosphere and an inlet 54 connected bya flexible hose 55 to the main pressure fluid supply line. In the present instance the valve 52 is operated by a ;,spring mounted.plunger 56 and the construction and arrangement of the valve 52 is such that when the plunger 53 is depressed, the valve is actuated to, open the valve and cause pressure fluid to flow from the connection 55 through the pipe line 53 to the cylinder 42,-thus admitting fluid beneath the piston 44 therein. On the other hand, when the operating plunger 56 is released, the valve 52 is closed and communication is established from the pipe line 50 to the exhaust port 53 so that air in the cylinder 42 is exhaustedtothe atmosphere. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention the valve 52 is mounted at the under- 1 side of the main operating treadle 34 of the machine and the valve plunger; 56 projects upwardly through an opening '5] in the treadle as shown in Figs; 1 and of the drawings. By this .arrangement the operator of the hammer, simply i bychanging the position ofhis foot on. the treadle ..34'-,is able to establish pressure fluid flow solely ,to.v the clamp release mechanism of the machine or simultaneously to both the said release mech-' anismand the adjustable dog control member M at will as may be desired. Y 7

In a typical forging operation of the drop hammer embodying thepresent invention, the oper-.. ,ator'can make the first fewblows of the operation with the ram operating through its full stroke simply by depressing the main foot treadle 34 of the machine andthe'remaining blows of the operation can be carried out by a shorter stroke of the ram 1 simply .by theoperator shifting hisfoot on the treadle 34 so that in the act of depressing the latter'the operator also depressesthe plunger 56 to open valve 52 and thereby admit pressure fluidto the; cylinder 42 causing the dog 35 to be projected into the path of the ram 1,. thus causing the ramtooper'ate through a stroke'of substantially reducedlen'gth.

'While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and desc'ribed'here- 1. In a drop hammer having a ram'adapted to drop freely by gravity and having a pressure fluid operated'piston for raising the ram, a pressure fluid system including a valve'to control the flow of pressure fluid to and from said piston'apiv oted lever operatively connected-to saidvalve for actuating the same, a member carried bysai'd lever normally positioned out of the pathfof travel of the ram and actuable into the] path of travel of the ram for engagement thereby on he upward stroke of the ram to close the valve, and means to actuate said member into the'rpath of the ram. i

2 In a drop hammer having "a ram'adapted to drop freelyby gravity and having a pressurefluid operatedpiston for raising the ram, agpressurje fluid systemincluding a valveto controlthe flow j of pressure fluid to and from said piston; Iapivoted lever'operatively connected to said v lvefor actuating the same, a first projectionifoi 'jsaid lever engageable bythe ram on the drop. stroke thereof to actuate the leverand open the valve to admitpressure fluid to said piston toraise'the rarn a second projection on the lever engageable by the ram, on the upward stroke thereof to clcse theva lvejand'prevent admission of fluidto thelift piston, a member carried byfs'aid lever intermediate said first and second projections normally positioned out of the path of traveler the ram andactuable into; the path oftravel of the ram for engagement thereby on theupward stroke of the ram to close the valve and establish a shorter working stroke'for the ram, and mechanism to actuate the member into the path of the ram. e e In a drop hammer having a ram adapted to drop freelyby gravity and having a pressure fluid operated'piston for raising the ram, a pressure fluid system including a valve to control the flow of pressure fluid'to and from 'said' p-iston, a pivoted lever operatively connected to said'valve for actuating the same, a member carried by said lever normally positioned out of the path of ,travel of the ram and actuable into the pathfof travel of the ram for engagementtherebyo the upward stroke ofsthe ram to close the valve; and control means cooperable with said'mjembenim eluding a pressurefluid [operated piston operable to-actuatesaid-control means and inturn' the ember to project the latter into thB path of theram. "1 fl. In a drop hammer having a ram adapted to drop-freely. by gravity and having apress'ure fluid operated piston for raising the ram','a pressure fluid systemv including aivalve to control the flow of pressure fluid to and from said piston, a pivoted leveroperatively connected to said valve for actuating thesame', a member carried by said lever normally positioned out ;of .the pathof travel of the ram and actuable'intofthepath of travel of the ram for engagement thereby on the upward stroke of, the ram toclosethejva'lve, control means cooperable with said member including a pressure ffluid operated piston operable to actuate said control means and'in' turn the-memfor actuating the same a member carfi e'dpby 'ifid pmject' the latteriptb 13h pa h qf the If'a'm, i e x u in ts c n r me ns mm? pmigijaflii'ctioz so that, the member normally is End nieaps 'operablg to x zpuagtgjthg coricrpl means said 'o'ne direction to position the member in the path t.r vel.q th a the ram aTii 'said conti'l 'hied'ns a'nd' in tlif'n the niembr to piston; a-rpivo-ted actuating the samef a first fiIOjGCtidhZ-ZOIH said the ram to close the valve and establish a shorter working stroke for the ram, control means actuable in one direction to project the dog member into the path of the ram, and spring means urging said control means in the opposite direction so that the dog member normally is positioned out of the path of the ram.

12. In a drop hammer having a ram adapted to drop freely by gravity and having a pressure fluid operated piston for raising the ram, a pressure fluid system including a valve to control the flow of pressure fluid to and from said piston, a pivoted control lever operatively connected to said valve for actuating the same, a dog member pivotally carried by said lever and overbalanced so that it is normally positioned out of the path of travel of the ram and actuable into the .path of travel of the ram for engagement thereby on the upward stroke of the ram to close the valve and establish a shorter Working stroke for the ram, control means slidably surrounding and operable with said lever and dog member operable in one direction to actuate said control means and in turn the dog member to project the latter into the path of the ram, and spring means urging the control means in the opposite direction so that the dog member normally is positioned out of the path of the ram.

13. In a drop hammer having a ram adapted to drop freely by gravity and having a pressure fluid operated piston for raising the ram, a pressure fluid system including a valve to control the flow of pressure fluid to and from said piston, a pivoted lever operatively connected to said valve for actuating the same, a dog member pivotally carried by said lever intermediate said first and second projections and overbalanced so that it is normally positioned out of the path of travel of the ram and actuable into the path of travel of the ram for engagement thereby on the upward stroke of the ram to close the valve and establish a shorter working stroke for the ram, control means cooperable with said member and actuable in one direction to actuate said member and project the latter into the path of the ram, means urging the control means in the opposite direction so that the member normally is positioned out of the path of travel of the ram, a pressure fluid operated piston in said control means operable to actuate the latter in said one 14. In a drop hammer having a ram adapted to drop freely by gravity and having a pressure fluid operated piston for raising the ram, a pressure fluid system including a valve to control the flow of pressure fluid to and from said piston, a pivoted lever operatively connected to said valve for actuating the same, a first projection on said lever engageable by the ram on the drop stroke thereof to actuate the lever and open the valve to admit pressure fluid to said piston to raise the ram, a second projection on the lever engageable by the ram on the upward stroke thereof to close the valve and prevent admission of fluid to the lift piston, a dog member pivotally carried by said lever intermediate said flrst and second projections and overbalanced so that it is nor-' mally positioned out of the path of travel of the ram and actuable into the path of travel of the ram for engagement thereby on the upward stroke of the ram to close the valve and establish a shorter Working stroke for the ram, control means cooperable with said member and actuable in one direction to actuate said member and project the latter into the path of the ram, means urging the control means in the opposite direction so that the member normally is positioned out of the path of travel of theram, a pressure fluid operated piston in said control means operable to actuate the latter in said one direction and position the member in the path of travel of the ram, and valve means operable by the operator at will to admit pressure fluid to said piston.

PAUL A. RICKRODE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,565,262 Da Costa Dec. 15, 1925 1,648,820 Phillips Nov. 8, 1927 1,924,545 Fitzgerald et al. Aug. 29, 1933 2,108,354. Swanson Feb. 15, 1938 2,164,811 Floss July 4, 1939 2,356,223 Crompton, Jr. Aug. 22, 1944 2,505,224; Whitcomb Apr. 25, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 205,136 Great Britain Oct. 9, 1923 

